Growing up, I used to volunteer at a farm down the road from my house that served as a therapeutic riding center that prided themselves in eliminating money as a barrier to access. I would go get horses from the pasture, groom them, and tack up for the riders coming that hour. I had a special community there of people from all backgrounds and walks of life. Many were there volunteering to help support a family member riding or were passionate about the mission of therapeutic riding as a healing option for people. I had never put much thought into the tremendous effort organizing and coordinating hundreds of volunteers a week must have been for the farm. But, as I have been researching volunteer programs across the refuge system, I am learning to appreciate and understand volunteering in a new way. 

Throughout the country, volunteers have maintained the FWS Refuge system alongside Service employees. Hundreds of thousands of hours are given each year to enhance the mission of conservation. Volunteers maintain trails, educate guests, run visitors centers, and many other duties each year. When a community and refuge are tightly intertwined, the refuge flourishes and is more appreciated locally. FWS does a great job of offering reimbursements and housing incentives for volunteers to help eliminate financial barriers. 

I have found that volunteer programs are successful when there is a connected coordinator. Currently, the National Conservation Training Center has no point of contact for volunteers. Locally, there is a plethora of opportunities for volunteers to get connected to the campus. I feel that the Training Center is lacking connection to the community. There is so much potential for learning through volunteerism. I am hoping that the volunteer program proposal I am writing will help strengthen and unify the campus with the local community. I know anyone passionate about the outdoors and conservation would be over the moon to get the opportunity to come onto NCTC campus! 

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: Directorate Fellows Program

Location: National Conservation Training Center